Technical Info
HVDC CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY
The technological core of the Hudson Project is a converter station located at 1 Railroad Avenue, Ridgefield, New Jersey, formerly the site of a warehouse. Using Siemens technology and equipment, the converter station converts Alternating Current (AC) power from the PJM system to Direct Current (DC), and then back to AC within the same site (called “back-to-back conversion”). The AC-DC-AC conversion means that up to 660 MW of power can be controlled very precisely and reliably to serve NYPA’s New York City customers.
Power conversion takes place within a “valve hall” using banks of thyristors. The HVDC technology used for Hudson is identical to that used in the Neptune project and dozens of other such project worldwide. It is well proven in terms of reliability and ease of maintenance.
The converter station does not generate power, burn fuel, or produce atmospheric emissions or hazardous levels of electro-magnetic fields.
HVDC CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY
The technological core of the Hudson Project is a converter station located at 1 Railroad Avenue, Ridgefield, New Jersey, formerly the site of a warehouse. Using Siemens technology and equipment, the converter station converts Alternating Current (AC) power from the PJM system to Direct Current (DC), and then back to AC within the same site (called “back-to-back conversion”). The AC-DC-AC conversion means that up to 660 MW of power can be controlled very precisely and reliably to serve NYPA’s New York City customers.
Power conversion takes place within a “valve hall” using banks of thyristors. The HVDC technology used for Hudson is identical to that used in the Neptune project and dozens of other such project worldwide. It is well proven in terms of reliability and ease of maintenance.
The converter station does not generate power, burn fuel, or produce atmospheric emissions or hazardous levels of electro-magnetic fields.
LAND-BASED CABLE
The main land-based cable is a 345-kilovolt AC cable, manufactured by Prysmian, originating at the converter station and entirely buried along a route that largely uses public streets or railroad rights-of-way. From the station, it proceeds southward to the existing New York Susquehanna & Western (“NYS&W”) railroad, and then turns east for about a mile through an inactive NYS&W tunnel. After exiting the tunnel, it is buried underneath New River Road in Edgewater, New Jersey, and along the southern boundary of the Edgewater Mall shopping center before entering the Hudson River.
In New York City, the upland cable proceeds underground from W. 52nd Street for less than three blocks along the West Side Highway. It turns into an entrance point at the ConEdison W. 49th Street substation and is interconnected to the ConEdison system within the substation.
MARINE CABLE
After entering the Hudson River in Edgewater, the cable is buried a minimum of 10 feet below the bottom of the Hudson River. It crosses an existing federal navigation channel roughly parallel to W.75th Street in Manhattan, then proceeds southward down the river on the New York side for about three miles before turning toward a landfall point between Piers 92 and 94.
The cable was installed using “jet plow” technology: A specially designed device with an adjustable blade, or plow, rests on the river bottom and is towed by a surface vessel. The plow creates a narrow trench at the designated depth, while water jets fluidize the sediment within the trench. The cable is fed through the plow and is laid into the trench as it moves forward. The fluidized sediments then settle back down into the trench and bury the cable.
Jet plow technology has been shown to minimize impacts to marine habitat and excessive dispersion of bottom sediments, and also was used for the Neptune RTS project, for which more than 50 miles of cable was installed using a jet plow.
MARINE CABLE
After entering the Hudson River in Edgewater, the cable is buried a minimum of 10 feet below the bottom of the Hudson River. It crosses an existing federal navigation channel roughly parallel to W.75th Street in Manhattan, then proceeds southward down the river on the New York side for about three miles before turning toward a landfall point between Piers 92 and 94.
The cable was installed using “jet plow” technology: A specially designed device with an adjustable blade, or plow, rests on the river bottom and is towed by a surface vessel. The plow creates a narrow trench at the designated depth, while water jets fluidize the sediment within the trench. The cable is fed through the plow and is laid into the trench as it moves forward. The fluidized sediments then settle back down into the trench and bury the cable.
Jet plow technology has been shown to minimize impacts to marine habitat and excessive dispersion of bottom sediments, and also was used for the Neptune RTS project, for which more than 50 miles of cable was installed using a jet plow.
NEW JERSEY SYSTEM UPGRADES
The Hudson Project is responsible for nearly $180 million worth of reinforcements and improvements to the existing electric transmission system in northern New Jersey mandated by PJM to assure no loss of reliability due to the project. These upgrades promote reliability by facilitating the increased flow of power to meet demand and improving the stability of the grid during system emergencies. Examples include: repositioning and/or upgrading the conductors and cables of existing power lines; replacing or adding to existing equipment at local electric substations (switches, circuit breakers, transformers, etc.); and adding strategically-placed new devices that will improve the electric system performance during disturbances to the grid.